At over 250 hectares, the Canberra National Arboretum is one of the largest in the world and one of the most beautiful and calming places in Canberra.

The Arboretum is set in idyllic open countryside to the west of the city centre, offering stunning views of Black Mountain with its iconic television transmitter and Canberra's city centre with Lake Burley Griffin.

Top 10 Best Hotels - Canberra

Over 44,000 trees from around the world

The National Arboretum Canberra grows trees from around the world and is continually expanding its collection of over 44,000 plants.

Among the most popular are forests of Himalayan cedars or Turkish pines, a species that grows on the Gallipoli Peninsula, where one of the largest foreign deployments of Australian soldiers took place during World War I.

You'll also find, for example, a forest of majestic Californian redwoods and a popular collection of bonsai.

Margaret Whitlam Pavilion

A prominent landmark of the arboretum is the 2013 Margaret Whitlam Ceremonial Pavilion, a beautiful subtle building with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for spectacular views of the landscape.

The pavilion is used for events such as weddings, cultural events and state visits are very common.

In front of the pavilion is a garden of trees that have just been planted as a gift to Australia by official foreign visitors.

A visit to the arboretum

There are over 20 km of walking trails in the arboretum, but the paths are comfortable and you can choose from many short and long circuits.

Entrance to the National Arboretum is free.

It is open daily from 9am-4pm, Please visit the official website at nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/opening-hours for current opening hours.

At the main entrance is a large building with a cafe, restaurant and gift shop.

If you don't feel like walking, you can book a guided bus tour 14 days in advance at 10,20 aud. You'll be taken around the arboretum on small electric buses and the whole tour will take about 60 minutes.

For booking and more information, visit nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/guided-tours.

How to get there

There are no public transport buses running near the arboretum and there are no convenient walking routes from the centre.

You can only get here by car, there is a large free car park on site.

You can pay around 20 aud for a taxi or Uber from the centre.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Canberra.